Shloka 6
उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka
Chapter 57
उत्तड्ुक उवाच एवमस्तु महाराज समय: क्रियतां तु मे । गुर्वर्थमभिनिर्वर्त्य पुनरेष्यामि ते वशम्,उत्तंकने कहा--महाराज! ऐसा ही सही, किंतु मेरे साथ एक शर्त कर लीजिये। मैं गुरुदक्षिणा चुकाकर फिर आपके वशमें आ जाऊँगा
uttaṅka uvāca evam astu mahārāja samayaḥ kriyatāṁ tu me | gurvartham abhinirvartya punar eṣyāmi te vaśam ||
उत्तंक म्हणाला—“महाराज, तसेच होवो; पण माझ्याशी एक करार ठरवा. मी गुरूचे कार्य पूर्ण करून व गुरुदक्षिणा अर्पण करून पुन्हा येईन आणि परत तुमच्या अधीन होईन.”
उत्तड्ुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through fidelity to one’s obligations: Uttaṅka prioritizes completing his guru’s purpose (including guru-dakṣiṇā) while also honoring a social-political commitment by returning afterward. Ethical action is framed as keeping agreements without abandoning higher duties.
Uttaṅka accepts the king’s proposal in principle but sets a condition: he must first finish the task connected to his teacher and settle the teacher’s due. Only after fulfilling that responsibility will he return and submit again to the king’s authority.